Legislator
Legislator > Joshua Watkins

State Representative
Joshua Watkins
(D) - Kentucky
Kentucky House District 042
In Office - Started: 01/01/2025

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Capitol Address

702 Capital Ave.
Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: 502-564-8100

Bill Bill Name Summary Progress
HB160 AN ACT relating to manufactured housing. Amend KRS 100.348 to prohibit a local government from adopting or enforcing zoning regulations that treat manufactured homes differently from single-family homes; allow only regulation of certain architectural features of manufactured homes and require that those same standards be applied to single family homes; permit placement of manufactured home with smaller dimensions if a larger manufactured home could not be situated on the lot; remove language regarding legislative purpose of statute; add noncodified statement of the intent of the General Assembly. Signed/Enacted/Adopted
HB236 AN ACT relating to coverage for epinephrine devices. Create a new section of Subtitle 17A of KRS Chapter 304 to require health benefit plans to cover epinephrine devices for covered persons; limit a covered person's cost-sharing amount to $100 annually; amend KRS 304.17A-099 to exempt the epinephrine device coverage requirement from being suspended under state law due to the triggering of federal cost defrayment requirements; amend KRS 205.522, 205.6485,164.2871, and 18A.225 to require Medicaid, KCHIP, self-insured employer group health plans offered by the governing board of a state postsecondary education institution, and the state employee health plan to comply with the epinephrine device coverage requirement; provide that various sections apply to health benefit plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026; require the Department of Insurance to determine whether the epinephrine devices coverage requirement would be in addition to essential health benefits required under federal law; require the Department of Insurance to obtain federal approval, if necessary; require the Cabinet for Health and Family Services or the Department for Medicaid Services to obtain federal approval, if necessary, and comply with notice requirements; EFFECTIVE, in part, January 1, 2026. Dead
HB773 AN ACT proposing an amendment to Section 145 of the Constitution of Kentucky relating to voting rights. Propose to amend Section 145 of the Constitution of Kentucky to automatically restore the voting rights of persons convicted of certain felonies upon completion of their imprisonment, probation, or parole and automatically restore their civil rights five years after completion of their imprisonment, probation, or parole; provide ballot language; submit to voters for ratification or rejection. Dead
HB803 AN ACT relating to occupational safety and health. Repeal KRS 338.062, relating to occupational safety and health standards. Dead
HB759 AN ACT relating to abortion. Amend KRS 311.720, 311.7701, and 311.781 to define terms; amend KRS 311.723, 311.725, 311.727, 311.732, 311.7706, 311.772, 311.780, and 311.782 to allow an abortion when the unborn child has a lethal fetal anomaly and delineate additional medical circumstances for the performance of an abortion; allow an abortion when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest and the gestational age of the fetus is 22 weeks or less; amend KRS 311.800 to provide for an abortion in a publicly owned hospital under certain circumstances; amend KRS 213.101 to add rape or incest to the reporting requirement; amend KRS 311.990 to conform; repeal KRS 311.735, relating to notice to a spouse; provide that the Act may be cited as the Compassionate Care Act. Dead
HB802 AN ACT relating to an individual income tax credit for tolls. Create a new section of KRS Chapter 141 to establish the 2026 toll relief tax credit; amend KRS 141.0205 to order the tax credit; amend KRS 131.190 to allow the department to report on the credit. Dead
HB567 AN ACT relating to Medicaid eligibility. Amend KRS 205.592 to extend Medicaid eligibility for new parents from 12 months to 24 months postpartum. Dead
HB581 AN ACT relating to firearms. Create new sections of KRS Chapter 237 to define "safe storage depository" and require an owner or custodian of a firearm to store the firearm in a safe storage depository or render the firearm incapable of being fired using a gun-locking device; require an owner or other person lawfully in possession of a firearm or any person who sells ammunition to report the loss or theft of the firearm or ammunition to a law enforcement agency; amend KRS 237.990 to establish penalties for violations. Dead
HB568 AN ACT relating to postsecondary education students. Create a new section of KRS Chapter 164 to define terms, require postsecondary education institutions to designate at least one employee in an appropriate department to serve as a liaison between the institution and a homeless student or student in care who is enrolled at the institution; detail responsibilities of the liaison, the Council on Postsecondary Education, and the institution; require an institution to create a position to carry out the responsibilities of a liaison if the number of students experiencing homelessness or students in care exceeds two percent of the student body. Dead
HB514 AN ACT relating to affordable housing developed on property owned by religious institutions. Create a new section of KRS Chapter 100 to define terms; allow religious institutions to develop affordable housing with only a ministerial submission to review by a planning unit for compliance with the provisions of the section if the development is on land owned by a religious institution, exclusively contains affordable housing for a period of 10 years, and contains fewer than 25 units; require compliance with design standards of the planning unit with the option to obtain a variance; require continuing compliance with the section; allow for religious institutions to propose an affordable housing development exceeding 25 units but require a public meeting and approval by the planning commission; allow the Kentucky Housing Corporation to provide technical and advisory resources to a religious developer. Dead
HB516 AN ACT relating to interrogation of children. Create a new section of KRS Chapter 610 to define terms; prohibit a child from being interrogated using deceptive methods; create a new rule of evidence to limit the admissibility of statements made in the interrogation of a child in violation of statute. Dead
HB583 AN ACT relating to housing and making an appropriation therefor. Create a new section of KRS Chapter 198A to create the affordable housing loan pool fund to be administered by the Kentucky Housing Corporation to provide rehabilitation and construction loans to eligible entities; specify terms and process; create a new section of KRS Chapter 194A to create the homelessness prevention fund to be administered by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services for continuum of care funds; specify eligible uses and eligible entities; amend KRS 198A.080 to modify criteria for housing development loan fund, require notice of eligible funds, and allow expenditure of funds for technical and administrative costs; create new section of KRS Chapter 198A to establish parameters by which the Kentucky Housing Corporation shall review and approve the affordable housing credit; create a new section of KRS Chapter 141 to establish the affordable housing credit; amend KRS 141.0205 to order the credit; amend KRS 131.190 to allow the Department of Revenue to report on the credits; repeal, reenact, and amend KRS 141.437 to reinstate the ENERGY STAR home credit to allow, in addition to prior credits, credit for the construction of an ENERGY STAR multifamily building; repeal, reenact, and amend KRS 141.435 to define terms; repeal, reenact, and amend KRS 141.436 to establish updated requirements for an energy efficiency credit; amend KRS 141.0205 to conform; amend KRS 131.190 to conform; amend KRS 139.480 to exempt the sale or purchase of new modular homes and new manufactured homes from sales and use tax on and after July 1, 2025 and before July 1, 2036 if they are to be used as a single-family residence and permanently affixed to real estate; amend KRS 142.400 to impose a 1% statewide surtax on the rental of accommodations when charged by the owner of the property or by a person facilitating the rental of the property and deposit the receipts from the surtax into the Kentucky affordable housing trust fund; amend KRS 42.580, 142.402, 142.404, 142.406, and 198A.190 to conform; amend KRS 132.810 to increase the frequency of the property tax homestead exemption cost of living adjustment to annually instead of biennially; create a new section of KRS Chapter 100 to define terms; allow religious institutions to develop affordable housing with only a ministerial submission to review by a planning unit for compliance with the provisions of the section if the development is on land owned by a religious institution, exclusively contains affordable housing for a period of 10 years, and contains fewer than 25 units; allow for religious institutions to propose an affordable housing development exceeding 25 units but require a public meeting and approval by the planning commission; allow the Kentucky Housing Corporation to provide technical and advisory resources to a religious developer; create a new section of KRS Chapter 383 to provide automatic expungement of records in actions for forcible entry and detainer; amend KRS 383.250 to provide for sealing of records; amend KRS 198A.027 to allow appropriations to be used for homeless initiatives; appropriate $104 million from the Budget Reserve Trust Fund account for various affordable housing initiatives; repeal KRS 65.874 and 383.198; APPROPRIATION. Dead
HB515 AN ACT relating to the Office of Safer Communities, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring an emergency. Create a new section of KRS Chapter 12 to establish the Office of Safer Communities within the Office of the Governor; amend KRS 12.020 and KRS 12.023 to conform; appropriate $3,000,000 in fiscal year 2025-2026 to fund the office; APPROPRIATION; EMERGENCY. Dead
HB517 AN ACT relating to application fees for the rental of residential real property. Create a new section of KRS Chapter 383 to require a landlord to disclose to a tenant the number of available rental units prior to collecting an application fee; prohibit a landlord from charging an application fee if there is no rental unit available; require a refund upon request if a prohibited application fee is charged. Dead
HB385 AN ACT relating to state symbols. Create a new section of KRS Chapter 2 to name and designate as the official pets of Kentucky domestic cats and dogs that reside in or have been adopted from Kentucky animal shelters or rescue organizations. Dead
HB405 AN ACT relating to voters qualified for excused in-person absentee voting. Amend KRS 117.076 to allow caregivers of voters qualified to cast an excused in-person absentee ballot due to age, disability, or illness to cast an excused in-person absentee ballot. Dead
HB271 AN ACT relating to school district employees and making an appropriation therefor. Appropriate necessary funds for local school districts to provide a five percent salary increase to eligible employees in fiscal year 2025-2026; APPROPRIATION. Dead
HB228 AN ACT relating to the rights of incarcerated children. Create a new section of KRS Chapter 600 to enumerate the rights of incarcerated children; provide that the Act may be cited as the Incarcerated Children's Bill of Rights. Dead
HB52 AN ACT relating to the property tax homestead exemption. Amend KRS 132.810 to increase the frequency of the property tax homestead exemption cost of living adjustment to annually instead of biennially. Dead
HB195 AN ACT relating to tax incentives for first-time home buyers. Create a new section of KRS Chapter 141 to define terms; establish a tax deduction for contributions made to an eligible savings account by a first-time home buyer and allow an exclusion from income for any interest earned from an eligible savings account of a first-time home buyer effective for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, but before January 1, 2036; require the Department of Revenue to report to the Legislative Research Commission and the Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations and Revenue; amend KRS 141.019 and 131.190 to conform. Dead
HB80 AN ACT relating to the presession filing of bills. Create a new section of KRS Chapter 6 to allow members and members-elect of the General Assembly to prefile bills and resolutions for introduction at the next succeeding regular legislative session; require the prefiled bills and resolutions to be published on the Legislative Research Commission's website. Dead
Bill Bill Name Motion Vote Date Vote
HB24 AN ACT relating to conservation. House: Third Reading RCS# 358 03/28/2025 Yea
HB48 AN ACT relating to education. House: Third Reading RCS# 355 03/28/2025 Yea
HJR5 A JOINT RESOLUTION designating names for various roads and bridges. House: Third Reading RCS# 345 03/28/2025 Yea
HB160 AN ACT relating to manufactured housing. House: Third Reading RCS# 346 03/28/2025 Yea
HB188 AN ACT relating to motor vehicle driveaway plates. House: Third Reading RCS# 350 03/28/2025 Yea
SB76 AN ACT relating to contracts for the improvement of real estate. House: Third Reading RCS# 348 03/28/2025 Yea
HB305 AN ACT relating to health care. House: Third Reading RCS# 353 03/28/2025 Yea
SB104 AN ACT relating to the Kentucky Public Employees' Deferred Compensation Authority. House: Third Reading RCS# 347 03/28/2025 Yea
HB430 AN ACT relating to school transportation and declaring an emergency. House: Third Reading RCS# 343 03/28/2025 Yea
HB437 AN ACT relating to alcoholic beverages. House: Third Reading RCS# 344 03/28/2025 Yea
HB441 AN ACT relating to reemployment after retirement in the Teachers' Retirement System. House: Third Reading RCS# 362 03/28/2025 Yea
SJR55 A JOINT RESOLUTION directing Kentucky's public postsecondary institutions to combat antisemitism. House: Third Reading RCS# 364 03/28/2025 Absent
HB501 AN ACT relating to pharmaceutical drugs. House: Third Reading RCS# 359 03/28/2025 Nay
HB493 AN ACT relating to the towing and storage of motor vehicles. House: Third Reading RCS# 352 03/28/2025 Yea
HB544 AN ACT relating to disaster relief, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring an emergency. House: Third Reading RCS# 351 03/28/2025 Yea
SB181 AN ACT relating to children. House: Third Reading RCS# 356 03/28/2025 Yea
HB555 AN ACT relating to local government financial practices. House: Third Reading RCS# 349 03/28/2025 Yea
HB664 AN ACT relating to the operation of a motor vehicle and declaring an emergency. House: Third Reading RCS# 365 03/28/2025 Yea
HB622 AN ACT relating to fiscal matters and declaring an emergency. House: Third Reading RCS# 360 03/28/2025 Yea
HB606 AN ACT relating to economic development. House: Third Reading RCS# 361 03/28/2025 Yea
HB618 AN ACT relating to alcoholic beverages. House: Third Reading RCS# 363 03/28/2025 Yea
SB9 AN ACT relating to teacher benefit provisions and declaring an emergency. House: Third Reading RCS# 357 03/28/2025 Yea
HB662 AN ACT relating to personally identifiable information. House: Third Reading RCS# 354 03/28/2025 Nay
HB90 AN ACT relating to maternal health and declaring an emergency. House: Third Reading RCS# 326 03/27/2025 Nay
SB19 AN ACT relating to permitted uses of time during the school day. House: Third Reading RCS# 337 03/27/2025 Nay
SB28 AN ACT relating to agricultural economic development and declaring an emergency. House: Third Reading RCS# 341 03/27/2025 Absent
HB136 AN ACT relating to corrections. House: Third Reading RCS# 327 03/27/2025 Nay
HB2 AN ACT relating to the taxation of currency and bullion currency and declaring an emergency. House: Third Reading RCS# 315 03/27/2025 Nay
SB65 AN ACT relating to deficient administrative regulations and declaring an emergency. House: Third Reading RCS# 334 03/27/2025 Nay
SB65 AN ACT relating to deficient administrative regulations and declaring an emergency. House: Veto Override RCS# 333 03/27/2025 Nay
SB65 AN ACT relating to deficient administrative regulations and declaring an emergency. House: Third Reading RCS# 331 03/27/2025 Nay
HB216 AN ACT relating to the Kentucky Office of Agricultural Policy and declaring an emergency. House: Third Reading RCS# 313 03/27/2025 Nay
SB89 AN ACT relating to environmental protection and declaring an emergency. House: Third Reading RCS# 339 03/27/2025 Nay
HB240 AN ACT relating to primary school. House: Third Reading RCS# 314 03/27/2025 Yea
SB84 AN ACT relating to judicial review of state agency action. House: Third Reading RCS# 336 03/27/2025 Nay
HB346 AN ACT relating to air quality programs and declaring an emergency. House: Third Reading RCS# 312 03/27/2025 Nay
HB399 AN ACT relating to interference with a legislative proceeding. House: Third Reading RCS# 329 03/27/2025 Nay
HB398 AN ACT relating to occupational safety and health. House: Third Reading RCS# 318 03/27/2025 Nay
HB424 AN ACT relating to employment at public postsecondary education institutions. House: Third Reading RCS# 319 03/27/2025 Nay
HB4 AN ACT relating to initiatives regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion. House: Third Reading RCS# 330 03/27/2025 Nay
HB495 AN ACT relating to healthcare services and declaring an emergency. House: Third Reading RCS# 311 03/27/2025 Nay
HB546 AN ACT relating to transportation, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring an emergency. House: Third Reading RCS# 325 03/27/2025 Absent
SB183 AN ACT relating to the fiduciary duties owed to the state-administered retirement systems. House: Third Reading RCS# 332 03/27/2025 Nay
HB566 AN ACT relating to the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation and declaring an emergency. House: Third Reading RCS# 320 03/27/2025 Nay
HB552 AN ACT relating to economic development. House: Third Reading RCS# 322 03/27/2025 Absent
HB6 AN ACT relating to administrative regulations and declaring an emergency. House: Third Reading RCS# 317 03/27/2025 Nay
HJR46 A JOINT RESOLUTION relating to road projects and declaring an emergency. House: Third Reading RCS# 324 03/27/2025 Nay
HJR30 A JOINT RESOLUTION authorizing the release of funds. House: Third Reading RCS# 323 03/27/2025 Nay
HB684 AN ACT relating to elections. House: Third Reading RCS# 321 03/27/2025 Nay
SB207 AN ACT relating to education. House: Third Reading RCS# 338 03/27/2025 Nay
SB245 AN ACT relating to the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Commission and declaring an emergency. House: Third Reading RCS# 335 03/27/2025 Nay
SB25 AN ACT relating to oversight of government operations and declaring an emergency. House: Third Reading RCS# 340 03/27/2025 Nay
HB695 AN ACT relating to the Medicaid program and declaring an emergency. House: Third Reading RCS# 316 03/27/2025 Nay
HB694 AN ACT relating to Teachers' Retirement System benefit funding. House: Third Reading RCS# 328 03/27/2025 Nay
SB27 AN ACT relating to health care. House: Third Reading RCS# 289 03/14/2025 Yea
HB45 AN ACT relating to campaign finance. House: Third Reading RCS# 292 03/14/2025 Absent
HB38 AN ACT relating to orders of protection. House: Third Reading RCS# 266 03/14/2025 Yea
SB22 AN ACT relating to licensed professionals. House: Third Reading RCS# 278 03/14/2025 Yea
HB30 AN ACT relating to public employee benefits. House: Third Reading RCS# 269 03/14/2025 Yea
SB61 AN ACT relating to swimming pools. House: Third Reading RCS# 276 03/14/2025 Nay
SB68 AN ACT relating to education. House: Third Reading RCS# 281 03/14/2025 Yea
SB69 AN ACT relating to allied animal health professional licenses. House: Third Reading RCS# 282 03/14/2025 Yea
HB184 AN ACT relating to insurance. House: Third Reading RCS# 284 03/14/2025 Yea
HB241 AN ACT relating to education and declaring an emergency. House: Third Reading RCS# 267 03/14/2025 Yea
HB240 AN ACT relating to primary school. House: Third Reading RCS# 291 03/14/2025 Yea
HB321 AN ACT relating to planning and zoning. House: Third Reading RCS# 302 03/14/2025 Yea
HB315 AN ACT relating to the acquisition of agricultural land. House: Third Reading RCS# 293 03/14/2025 Absent
HB346 AN ACT relating to air quality programs and declaring an emergency. House: Third Reading RCS# 294 03/14/2025 Absent
HB342 AN ACT relating to financial literacy. House: Third Reading RCS# 301 03/14/2025 Yea
SB2 AN ACT relating to correctional facilities. House: Third Reading RCS# 309 03/14/2025 Absent
SB2 AN ACT relating to correctional facilities. House: Veto Override RCS# 308 03/14/2025 Nay
HB369 AN ACT relating to police department members. House: Adopt SCS 1 RCS# 303 03/14/2025 Nay
SB133 AN ACT relating to sanctioning bodies for boxing and wrestling exhibitions. House: Third Reading RCS# 287 03/14/2025 Yea
SB129 AN ACT relating to property. House: Third Reading RCS# 273 03/14/2025 Yea
SB120 AN ACT relating to education. House: Veto Override RCS# 283 03/14/2025 Yea
SB120 AN ACT relating to education. House: Third Reading RCS# 280 03/14/2025 Yea
SB120 AN ACT relating to education. House: Adopt HFA 1 RCS# 279 03/14/2025 Nay
SB145 AN ACT relating to retail installment contracts. House: Third Reading RCS# 285 03/14/2025 Nay
HB455 AN ACT relating to elections. House: Third Reading RCS# 295 03/14/2025 Nay
SB169 AN ACT relating to administrative subpoenas. House: Third Reading RCS# 268 03/14/2025 Yea
HB495 AN ACT relating to healthcare services and declaring an emergency. House: Third Reading RCS# 305 03/14/2025 Nay
HB495 AN ACT relating to healthcare services and declaring an emergency. House: Veto Override RCS# 304 03/14/2025 Nay
HB546 AN ACT relating to transportation, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring an emergency. House: Third Reading RCS# 298 03/14/2025 Yea
SB183 AN ACT relating to the fiduciary duties owed to the state-administered retirement systems. House: Third Reading RCS# 265 03/14/2025 Yea
HB552 AN ACT relating to economic development. House: Third Reading RCS# 297 03/14/2025 Yea
HJR46 A JOINT RESOLUTION relating to road projects and declaring an emergency. House: Third Reading RCS# 264 03/14/2025 Yea
SB201 AN ACT relating to workers' compensation. House: Third Reading RCS# 290 03/14/2025 Yea
HJR30 A JOINT RESOLUTION authorizing the release of funds. House: Third Reading RCS# 286 03/14/2025 Yea
HB682 AN ACT relating to utility relocation. House: Third Reading RCS# 299 03/14/2025 Yea
SB207 AN ACT relating to education. House: Third Reading RCS# 275 03/14/2025 Nay
SB207 AN ACT relating to education. House: Adopt HFA 3 RCS# 274 03/14/2025 Yea
SB25 AN ACT relating to oversight of government operations and declaring an emergency. House: Third Reading RCS# 272 03/14/2025 Absent
SB25 AN ACT relating to oversight of government operations and declaring an emergency. House: Adopt HFA 3 RCS# 271 03/14/2025 Nay
SB25 AN ACT relating to oversight of government operations and declaring an emergency. House: Suspend the Rules RCS# 270 03/14/2025 Absent
SB1 AN ACT relating to the film industry. House: Third Reading RCS# 277 03/14/2025 Yea
SB244 AN ACT relating to the operations of the Department of Law. House: Third Reading RCS# 300 03/14/2025 Yea
HB695 AN ACT relating to the Medicaid program and declaring an emergency. House: Third Reading RCS# 307 03/14/2025 Nay
HB695 AN ACT relating to the Medicaid program and declaring an emergency. House: Veto Override RCS# 306 03/14/2025 Nay
HB13 AN ACT relating to revenue and declaring an emergency. House: Third Reading RCS# 288 03/14/2025 Yea
HB775 AN ACT relating to fiscal matters. House: Third Reading RCS# 296 03/14/2025 Nay
  Committee Position Rank
Detail Kentucky House Agriculture Committee 21
Detail Kentucky House Natural Resources and Energy Committee 18
Detail Kentucky House Small Business and Information Technology Committee 13
Detail Kentucky House State Government Committee 18
Detail Kentucky Joint Agriculture Committee 22
Detail Kentucky Joint Housing Task Force 6
Detail Kentucky Joint Natural Resources and Energy Committee 17
Detail Kentucky Joint State Government Committee 29
Detail Kentucky Joint Tourism, Small Business and Information Technology Committee 23
State District Chamber Party Status Start Date End Date
KY Kentucky House District 042 House Democrat In Office 01/01/2025